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“Don’t you think it would be easier to deal with a few girls at school than to deal with me?”
“I want to deal with you.”
“You’d be the first.” The second I speak the words, I regret them. I can feel his eyes on me while we sit at a light. I keep my attention trained out the window.
“Are you hungry?” Van asks after the silence stretches for way too long.
“I’m okay.” I shrug.
“I’m buying.” His tone is playful, but it still lands wrong on me, and I know it’s because he’s now been in my shitty apartment twice while I’m in his fancy-ass car.
“I have my own money. Even got a job.”
“But you’re my girl. I’m supposed to buy.”
“Fine. It's your wallet. But don’t think because I'm a beanpole I can’t out-eat you.”
“I know. We had lunch together, and you took all my fries and a slice of pizza.”
“I don’t know where it all goes.”
“Your legs,” he says without missing a beat.
“My legs?” I’ve always felt a bit awkward with my height.
“You got legs for days, Red.”
“Is that good thing?” I find myself asking.
“I enjoy them.”
“You enjoy them?” I laugh, not sure how that’s possible.
“Not sure you’re ready to know more on that one.”
“I enjoy knowing everything,” I remind him.
“Let’s just say I enjoy thinking about them around me in lots of ways.” A rush of heat settles right between said legs.
“Are you teasing me?”
“Like I said, Red. You’re not ready.”
I’m not sure I am either. I wish I could be, but fear of being hurt always wins out. But who knows? I don’t think Van has ever lost at anything.
Chapter
Eight
VAN
Red hasn’t looked me in the eye once since she got into my car. She stared at her hands clasped in her lap, watched the scenery go by, counted every table we passed inside the restaurant, and now is busy reorganizing the silverware.
“Let’s talk about it,” I say.
“About what?”
“The elephant in the room. The family situation. There's no reason to be embarrassed. Look at what I come from.”
